Summary

In the summer, Frazier naps in his car at the picnic area on the west side of town, across the creek from the high school. Many people in town talk about places that are long gone like many businesses in other rural towns over the past 30 years, but though Pine Ridge Reservation has lost businesses, the population has nearly doubled while neighboring towns' populations have dwindled; Frazier ponders if the Indians' population will continue to increase and the settlers will move away. Documentaries and news reports focus on the rundown sections of town to illustrate the poverty that's inevitable on the reservation as only 30% of people on the reservation are employed. As he wanders around town that summer, Frazier keeps his eyes on the ground, examining the trash as if it is interesting.

Pine Ridge summers really open in August when people arrive for...